Foiling at Full Flight Beneath Sugarloaf
Tickets for the 2026 Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix went on sale first to SailGP+ members on 19 January, before opening to the general public on 23 January via SailGP.com/Rio. Given the setting, the speed and the long-awaited arrival of the circuit in Brazil, demand is expected to be fierce.
Scheduled for 11–12 April 2026, the Rio event will mark the fourth stop of the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship, dropping the world’s fastest racing fleet into the dramatic amphitheatre of Guanabara Bay, with Sugarloaf Mountain and Rio’s skyline forming one of the most jaw-dropping backdrops in modern sailing.
SailGP’s South American debut
For SailGP, Rio represents more than just another pin on the calendar. It is the championship’s first ever event in South America, a major milestone for a series built on global reach, stadium racing and fan accessibility.
Across two high-octane days, 13 national teams will go head-to-head in identical 50-foot foiling catamarans, capable of speeds exceeding 100 km/h, often sailing faster than the wind itself. The racing is short, brutal and unforgiving — tactical mistakes punished instantly, bravery rewarded just as quickly.
For Brazilian fans, the moment carries even more weight. The Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team will race at home for the first time, entering its second season in the championship after an eye-catching debut year that delivered race wins and proved Brazil belongs at the sharp end of foiling’s elite.
A homecoming for Brazilian sailing
Driving the Brazilian boat is Martine Grael, already a household name in Olympic sailing and now one of SailGP’s standout helms. For her and the team, Rio is not just another venue — it’s personal.
“Our first season in SailGP was incredibly special,” Grael said. “We grew a lot as a team and even secured two race wins, which showed the potential of this Brazilian project.”
“But now the excitement is even greater. Racing at home, in Rio, with our own fans behind us — that’s something we didn’t get to experience last season. Sailing in Guanabara Bay, surrounded by that energy, will be fantastic. We can’t wait to give our best on the water.”
For a league built on national identity and crowd connection, few scenes promise more atmosphere than a Brazilian team racing in front of a Brazilian shoreline.
Speed, spectacle — and a new way to watch
SailGP CEO and co-founder Sir Russell Coutts believes Rio will quickly become one of the series’ defining events.
“The 2026 Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix will deliver everything that makes SailGP the most exciting racing on water: incredible speed, tight competition and a backdrop you simply can’t find anywhere else,” Coutts said.
“Brazil’s fans bring extraordinary passion, and with the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team racing at home — alongside the launch of our new VELA Beach Club — this will be one of our most vibrant and unforgettable events yet.”
Rio will also be the first location to offer tickets for VELA Beach Club, SailGP’s new premium hospitality concept. Designed as a chic, waterside social hub, VELA combines best-in-house race viewing with refined lounge spaces, premium food and drink, and a distinctly relaxed yet elevated atmosphere.
The name “VELA”, drawn from the Latin for sails, reflects freedom, movement and the pursuit of new horizons — a fitting ethos for foiling at full flight beneath Sugarloaf.
Ticket options for 2026
Two ticket tiers will be available for the Enel Rio Sail Grand Prix, with pricing announced closer to the on-sale dates:
Waterfront Grandstands Positioned in the heart of the race stadium, grandstand seating delivers elevated views, live expert commentary, big screens, and access to food and drink throughout the day.
VELA Beach Club A premium waterfront experience blending elite racing with a vibrant social scene, featuring top-tier race views, complimentary culinary offerings, premium beverages, and attentive service — SailGP, done in style.
Beyond the racecourse
The Rio announcement also coincides with the launch of “Born to Sail”, a five-episode documentary series following the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team through its first season. Airing on Sportv2 and Globoplay, the series dives behind the scenes of a campaign shaped by extreme speed, strategic calls, near misses and victories decided by seconds.
It’s a reminder that SailGP’s appeal isn’t just the spectacle — it’s the human stories unfolding at 50 knots.
Come April 2026, those stories will play out against one of the most iconic shorelines on Earth.
Rio is ready. SailGP is coming.